Public Release: 9-Dec-2002
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Brain preserves ability to 'feel' and 'move' after spinal cord injury in one quadriplegic
Brain regions involved in movement and feeling appear to remain relatively healthy and active even years after the body has been paralyzed, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. A team of investigators found that five years after complete paralysis from a severe spinal cord injury, areas of the brain normally responsible for some movements and feelings have maintained those capabilities in one quadriplegic.
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, J. S. McDonnell Foundation
It does not take a lot of sleuthling to discover that the individual named here is Cristopher Reeve. It will be an interesting footnote to history if his particlualr case opens up new understandings of spinal cord injury. 1:36:21 PM
The capsid protein is used by the virus to build the capsule that carries the virus's genes around. This protein evolved for structural reasons but it also appears to be involved in the disease, particularly in its inflammatory responses. It is often the unintended consequences of a proteins activities that provide new and useful environmental niches for an organism. I wonder if the same sorts of inflammations seen in mice and humans is also seen in the natural host, birds? 1:34:11 PM
I don't dobt that there are general tendencies but it is the diversity of approaches that help make an animal successful. There is also significant overlap in the tendencies of males and females. Some people argue that the peaks of the two bell curves are well separated with no overlap of the tails of the curves. Others argue that the peaks completely overlap and any differences come from outside influences. Most likely there are two peaks. They are well separated in a neutral environment and are much more separated in a highly gender-specific environment. 1:24:29 PM
